Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-08-17

stranger who apologIzed SC gracefully
for jostling him at the ferry landing
could have told him what had become
of the money. But this was only sur
mise. The fact itself was beyond con-
| lecture; the money was gone. True,
it was only a few one and two-dolIar
| bills-only faces and duces," as the
| defunct firms dashing traveller. Harry
Sllmtom, would have said, but its loss
| was more crushing to poor Caleb,
coming upon the heels Of the other dis
aster, than the unsuccessful opening OF
the richest kind OF a jackpot would
have teen to the gay and brilliant
Harry, and Caleb remarked (thls time
| privately and to the inner self, "W ell,
| dash it all any way!' But whatever
there was of comfort and relief in these
'scape valve emissions from an over
| charged heart, they did not furnish the
| curative solace of resource or expe-
dent. What to do was the immediate
problem. a week before Caleb's uncle
had said to him that If be, Caleb, could
lay his hand upon twelve or fifteen
hundred dollars there was a chance for
him and the cash in the cid gentle
mans factory, together with sure in
come of more than double the wages
the little man had been receiving.
What good, however, was such an
offer to Calebl He was as far from
having 81 800 as from the moon.
Moodily he turned toward the bank
to draw the sum necessary TO pay the
rent, and, passing in, after a tedious
walt for the doors TO open, he saw
the little savings that stood between
him and dire distress shrink into still
more alarming insignilcance.
He left the bank with heavy heart,
and, fearful lest he might again become
the victim OF cruel fortune, he kept the
limpsey little book, with It's modest
fringe OF ends of bank notes, tightly
clasped In his hand. Turning the cor
ner of the nearest "short cut" lie
found himself among a throng of men,
some interested, some idly curious, all
attentive to the words cf a dapper
gentleman, who was volubly soliciting
bids on something which Caleb was
too much occupied with other matters
to notice; for back of the dapper and
verbose gentleman stood the polite ana
suave stranger who had apologiZed al
the ferry landing for jostling Caleb
and who might have taken the roll OF
money. Hoping against despair, Caleb
pressed forward through the crowd,
and, bank book in hand, waved q
frantic signal toward the stranger.
''Ah, yes! thank you, SIR" Chartered
on the dapper auct;oneer. Thirty
one did you sayP Going at thirty-one,
'ty-one. 'ty-one; Will no one say thirty
two? Last call; gentlemen! Going,
going, gone! This gentleman gets it
at S31 600, and mighty cheap. too.
Name, please?" and he smiled blandly
at Caleb.
The poor little man was utterly con-
founded. He saw that he had unwIt-
ting bid on some valuable piece of
property, and feeling of horror came
over him as he felt that he must pub
lIcly diSavow his intention and explain
that he only wanted to arrest the at
tention OF a well dressed gentleman
whom he suspected of being a thief.
lie stammered out: My name is Bost-
wickl" and as the crowd parted to en-
able him TO advance, he felt that 1t
would be \ merciful dispensatlon to be
permitted to sink through the earth TO
even China. Clutching his bank
book more firmly, he sought to make a
whispered explanation TO the auctioneer
who stood In bland and smiling eXpec-
tation. at this critical moment, a
I-1AAA OA1 3AAo DdLh DOOh
shoulder-caused him TO turn and face
the intruder who hindered the culmin-
aCion OF his days misery "OIe mo-
ment, Mr.. Bostwick," said a voice in
his ear, don't settle yet. If you please
VIII you take a thousand for your
bargain?" mo, sir,'' stammered
poor Caleb, anxious to explain. u
don't WANT Fifteen hundred
then, say fifteen hundred and I'll give
you a check right here.'' "Reaily,"
gasped Caleb-"I'H tell you what I'll
do" persisted the stranger. "I'll give
you 1000 to turn the bargain over TO
me. My old man wants the house, but
I'm blessed if I'll give penny over
S33, 900 for It. VIII you take it? Yes
or no! Quickr'
Caleb's eyes began TO bulge. He re-
allied that he was being offered $4,000
10 back out of his blunder. With one
supreme effort he refraIned from falling
dead at the feet OF his persistent
stranger, and with strange prOcrastI-
nation asked:
self?"
Didn't get here till after you'd got
your work in; Thought the old duffer
wouldn't begin the sale SO early. Is it
a trader" 1T is" gasped Caleb, as
he saw the stranger draw out from his
wallet & handful of certified checks and
select two of $1,000 each from the
goodly fellowship of the greater ones.
The stranger drew a fountain pen
from its case and fitted it to its holder
You see," he remarked, as he in
dorsed the checks, Il like to get
things all settled up tight and fast
while L am about it, SO there won't be
any backing out" 80 do l." said
Caleb simply.